Brunner, Charles H. (1864-1948)

Charles H. Brunner was an outstanding leader of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church in eastern Pennsylvania. He was the son of Joel S. and Rebecca (Gehman) Brunner, born 2 January 1864 at Zionsville, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He married Sarah C. Musselman 29 September 1888, to whom were born one son (deceased) and one daughter. He had a public school education.

He was converted in 1878 and the same year joined the Evangelical Mennonites (in 1883 this group helped to form the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church). He entered the ministry in 1893 and was ordained in 1896. He served as pastor in the Pennsylvania Conference for 40 years, 1893-1898 and 1907-1942, as follows: [[Lehighton Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church (Lehighton, Pennsylvania,
USA)|Lehighton]], 1893-1894; Royersford, 1894-1896; Reading, 1896-1898, 1907-1910; [[Bethlehem Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
USA)|Bethlehem]], 1910-1914; Allentown (Bethel), 1914-1920; [[Bethlehem Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
USA)|Bethlehem]], 1920-1923; Philadelphia (Salem), 1923-1933; and Emmaus, 1933-1942. He was Presiding Elder for six years, 1898-1902 and 1905-1907.

In 1899 he organized the Gospel Herald Society, which was still the Home Missionary Society of the Conference in 1950, and was its first president, serving from 1899 to 1905.

Brunner also served as editor of the Gospel Banner, official organ of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, 1908-1912. He was the first editor of the Pennsylvania Conference Yearbook. He was conference secretary for 44 years, 1891-1899 and 1906-1942.

He was a member of 10 general conferences, 1896 to 1936 inclusive, and chairman of the general conference at Kitchener, Ontario in 1900.

Brunner retired from the active ministry in 1943 although he continued as an associate editor of the Gospel Banner. He died 20 November 1948.